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Jerusalem artichoke could be used as a source of renewable energy in the meaning of biomass combustion or liquid fuels production. The presented study concerned on the impact of JA plantation for biomass combustion on plant diversity. The spontaneous vegetation of JA crops studied on the basis of phytosociological methods consisted of varied groups of species that contain weeds (32%), meadow (29%), and ruderal (13%) species. Most of the species occurred sporadically (55%) with low frequency. Most of the plants accompanying JA cultivation were perennial, mainly hemicryptophytes (51%) with a smaller number of geophytes (17%). Therophytes constituted 25% of spontaneous flora of JA crops. It can be proposed the group of generalist energy crop weeds with Convolvulus arvensis, Elymus repens, Equisetum arvense, Ranunculus repens, and Rumex obtusifolius.

Streszczenie W pracy przedstawiono nowe stanowiska 18 rzadkich (lub regionalnie rzadkich) roślin naczyniowych w Polsce (rodzimych i obcych), tj. Allium victorialis , Asclepias syriaca , Carex brizoides , Cephalanthera rubra , Cypripedium calceolus , Eragrostis albensis , Erysimum pieninicum , Gentiana cruciata , Lepidium coronopus , L. latifolium , Limosella aquatica , Lycopodiella inundata , Orobanche centaurina , O. lutea , Silaum silaus , Taraxacum paucilobum , Tragus racemosus oraz Trapa natans .

Phacelia tanacetifolia Benth. is a melliferous, phytosanitary fodder plant. An important factor in understanding the biology of this plant is to investigate its allelopathic potential. In the experiment conducted here, ×Triticosecale Wittm. cv. Mamut was treated with water extracts from the roots, stems, leaves, and flowers of phacelia at concentrations of 10%, 12.5%, 15%, and control with 0% of extract. After 7 days of exposure, the germination of grains was assessed by analysing, seedling growth, mass parameters, water content, and electrolytes leakage. Aqueous extracts from the stalks, leaves, and flowers of phacelia significantly inhibited kernel germination at a 10% concentration, and from roots at a 12.5% concentration. The elongation growth of triticale seedlings was significantly inhibited by each of the extracts. Extracts from the leaves and flowers caused a significant reduction in fresh mass at a 10% concentration and extracts from the stalks at a 12.5% concentration. A significant reduction in water content was also found in seedlings watered with extracts of 10% from roots, stalks, and leaves and 12.5% from flowers. Extracts from phacelia roots at a 12.5% concentration and extracts from stalks, leaves, and flowers at a 10% concentration significantly increased the leakage of electrolytes. In general, phacelia exhibits allelopathic potential at higher concentrations of extracts.

Due to an internal figure processing error the article was published with erroneous renderings of Figs. 1, 2, and 3.

The article presents the history of the Herbarium of the Jagiellonian University (KRA), the oldest herbarium associated with a university in Poland, which is among the 30 oldest herbaria in the world. It was established in 1780 and was part of the Cabinet of Natural History of the Jagiellonian University. Nowadays, the Herbarium is part of the Institute of Botany at Jagiellonian University. The oldest collections come from the 18th century. The Herbarium consists of about 885,000 sheets and bags, and is subdivided into five sections: vascular plants, bryophytes, lichens and algae, and slime molds. The separated collection is the paleoherbarium. The curators of the Herbarium sections during its history are listed. The list of the most important publications (sources) is also presented.

Synanthropisation of vegetation is today a serious problem both due to its impact on plant and animal diversity, as well as its significance through the impact on the global and local economy in the direct and indirect direction. Understanding the mechanisms of new arrivals is one of the important aspects of many types of research. The presented paper concerns the analysis of selected features of kenophytes occurring on the Proszowice Plateau (Southern Poland). On the basis of long-term floristic studies, a list of kenophytes was selected. The list was subject to a detailed analysis of the frequency, origin, ecological numbers, life forms, and life strategies. The results indicate that perennial species with a CR life strategy have the greatest chance of expansion in the agricultural area, although the annual species with the C strategy predominate.

The conducted experiment was aimed at determining the effect of aqueous extracts from dry roots and shoots of common weed nipplewort (Lapsana communis L. subsp. communis) on seeds germination and early growth of radish (Raphanus sativus L. var. radicula Pers.), cultivars ‘Rowa’, ‘Krakowianka’, ‘Półdługa’. The experiment was carried out in the form of Petri dishes tests with 3 different percentage concentrations of extracts (1%, 3% and 5%, respectively). The germination indexes used here revealed that the germination capacity of the radish seeds was significantly inhibited by extracts from the roots and shoots of L. communis subsp. communis. The elongation growth of radish roots and hypocotyls was stimulated to a higher percentage by extracts from nipplewort roots than by extracts from shoots. The fresh and dry mass of the radish seedlings depended on the type (roots/shoots) and concentration of the extract as well as the radish cultivar. The electrolyte leakage was the highest in seedlings watered with 5% extract of nipplewort shoots. The cultivar most sensitive to nipplewort extracts turned out to be ‘Półdługa’, and the least sensitive was ‘Rowa’. The response of radish seeds to nipplewort extracts is probably due to the presence of allelochemical compounds and their synergistic interaction.

Choroby układu sercowo-naczyniowego należą do grupy chorób cywilizacyjnych odpowiedzialnych za główną część zgonów na świecie. W leczeniu i zapobieganiu tym chorobom stosuje się liczne leki i preparaty, w tym zawierające substancje roślinne, po które szczególnie chętnie sięgają pacjenci we wczesnych stanach chorobowych. Na rynku obecnych jest wiele preparatów roślinnych dostępnych bez recepty. Celem opracowania było sporządzenie wykazu systematycznego roślin, które są stosowane powszechnie przez pacjentów przy leczeniu i suplementacji różnych schorzeń związanych z układem krwionośnym. Na podstawie 100 preparatów dostępnych w aptekach lub sklepach zielarskich bez recepty w Polsce sporządzono wykaz gatunków roślin, które scharakteryzowano pod kątem ich pochodzenia, rodzaju surowca zielarskiego, składów chemicznych i właściwości leczniczych wykorzystywanych w chorobach krążenia. Sporządzony wykaz systematyczny obejmuje 65 gatunków, głównie roślin naczyniowych. Najbardziej powszechnym surowcem stosowanym w preparatach dostępnych na rynku jest Crataegus sp., Aesculus hippocastanum oraz Ruscus aculeatus. Większość odnotowanych tu roślin wykazuje działanie wazoprotekcyjne (np. Ginkgo biloba, Ophiogon japonicus, Ruscus aculeatus, Ribes nigrum), obniża ciśnienie tętnicze krwi (np. Aronia melanocarpa, Fucus vesiculosus, Passiflora incarnata), działa rozkurczająco (np. Leonurus cardiaca, Polygonum aviculare). Lista systematyczna obejmuje 23 gatunki roślin rodzimych dla Europy środkowej, natomiast substancje roślinne otrzymywane z 20 gatunków sprowadzane są różnych obszarów świata.

Streszczenie W pracy przedstawiono nowe stanowiska 12 rzadkich (lub regionalnie rzadkich) roślin naczyniowych w Polsce, tj. Cochlearia danica , Colchicum autumnale , Cuscuta campestris , Lythrum hyssopifolia , Ostericum palustre , Pedicularis sylvatica , Plantago coronopus , Ranunculus arvensis , Rosa gallica , Sesleria uliginosa , Succisella inflexa oraz Veronica prostrata .

Under natural conditions, plants compete for environmental resources, including by the release of allelopathic compounds with a various spectrum of activity. Therefore, the effect of aqueous extracts of cock’s-foot Dactylis glomerata L. on germination and early growth phases and electrolyte leakages of a red clover Trifolium pratense L. was investigated. The 5, 10, and 15% of the aqueous extracts of cock’s-foot separately from shoots and inflorescences were used in two type of treatments tested in parallel. In first treatment the red clover seeds were watered directly with the aqueous extracts by eight days of experiment time, in second the seeds were pretreated with extracts for 24, 48 and 72 h and next they were watered with distilled water during experiment time. The results showed that the germination capacity of red clover seeds decreased with increasing concentrations of cock’s-foot aqueous extracts. Regardless of the duration of seed treatment with the extracts, the highest inhibition of germination was found when the 15% cock’s-foot shoot extracts was used. For red clover seedlings pretreated with extracts for 72 h, the highest and statistically significant differences in the growth were observed. With the increasing of concentration of cock’s-foot extracts significant inhibition of the underground and aboveground organs growth were observed. The increase of fresh and dry masses of red clover seedlings varied depending on the duration of contact with the extracts and their concentrations. The electrolyte leakage, as compared to the control, increased with the concentration of extracts, regardless of types and duration of extracts. The obtained results clearly confirm that leaving biomass of cock’s-foot on the field can lead to the release of phytotoxins that may inhibit germination and growth of red clover.

Tall-herb communities play an important role in the vegetation of the European mountains. They are developed in humid habitats with nutrient-rich soil, from submontane to subalpine zones. As its contemporary flora consists of different geographical elements, their history, especially in relation to the climatic oscillations throughout the Pleistocene, is not straightforward. We analyze the phylogeography of Doronicum austriacum, one of the main species building Central European tall-herb communities. We additionally discuss these new data in the context of earlier phylogeographical studies of key species of tall-herb communities to compare the major patterns of their lineage distributions. The study was based on AFLP fingerprinting and DNA sequencing of sampled populations from the Carpathians and adjacent lowland, Alps, Sudetes, and Balkan Peninsula. Our results confirm the phylogeographical break between the Western and South-Eastern Carpathians as a major regional biogeographical feature. Close affinity of the Western Carpathian and Sudetes populations was also confirmed as a significant feature in common for studied tall-herb species. In contrast to the phylogeographical structure of other tall-herb species, a divergence of D. austriacum populations from the Balkan Peninsula was observed supporting the presence of divergent and taxonomically distinct lineage in the latter area. The general phylogeographical pattern indicates past survival in several distinct areas but only partly common features for the community level emerge. Finally, the history of low-elevation populations of D. austriacum at the northern margin of the distribution range remains unclear but mainly their close affinity to the forest Western Carpathian populations is suggested.

The allelopathic potential of medicinal plant Filipendula vulgaris Moench, originated from two natural habitats: calcareous grasslands and humid meadows, was investigated using radish (Raphanus sativus L. var. radicula Pers.) as a model plant. Suppression influence of aqueous extracts at concentrations: 1%, 5%, 10%, obtained separately from under and aboveground parts of the species, was studied testing germination capacity, biomass and biometry of seedling, and electrolyte leakage. Additionally, two cultivars of the radish were used to test the sensitivity of frequently used plant in the laboratory tests. This study revealed the inhibiting effect of high concentration aqueous extracts from F. vulgaris organs on the germination of radish. It was significant for seed vigour index, speed emergence, germination stress tolerance index, and mean germination time. However, the stimulating effect of 1% of aqueous extracts from dropwort roots and shoots on the germination indexes was documented. Similarly, low concentration extracts had a positive effect on seedling elongation which was visible in biometric analyses and inhibition percentage index but it was not so obvious in the biomass analyses. In general, the aboveground extracts from dropwort grown on calcareous grassland demonstrated higher allelopathic potential than extracts from underground parts and meadow habitat.

Solidago canadensis belongs to highly invasive species in Europe, it is established in ruderal, semi-natural and natural communities. To test the traits related to invasiveness, the experiment with the potential of allelopathic compounds produced by the species was conducted. The aqueous extract from the goldenrod leaves was used to examine the germination and early stages of development of Trifolium pratense, the species as an example of fodder plant common in meadows and pastures. Three types of aqueous extract were used: decoction, infusion, and macerate. All extracts of Canadian goldenrod had a negative influence on the germination process of red clover, however, the effect changed in time and type of extract. The most inhibiting influence was documented for the macerate type of aqueous extract. Similarly, the negative influence of macerate was the highest for the length and weight of the seedlings, the content of chlorophyll a and b, and electrolyte leakage. As the procedure of obtaining the macerate is the most like the process of natural extraction of allelopathic substances in nature, there is the practical conclusion to remove the moved biomass of the goldenrod during the restoration process of areas colonised by the species.

Seed predation has been suggested to play a crucial role in plant population dynamics and could act as a strong selective force in the evolution of plant traits such as plant phenology, size and number of flowers. The loss of seeds could be particularly threatening for population maintenance of rare plant species. We investigated the influence of seed predators on plant fitness of the rare monocarpic thistle Cirsium decussatum. We tested the following hypotheses: (1) pre-dispersal seed predators reduce the number of dispersed propagules; (2) seed predators select larger inflorescences as oviposition sites; (3) the size of the capitulum is correlated with seed productivity; and (4) seed predators compete for the oviposition sites. We identified ten insect taxa from different taxonomic groups in the capitula of C. decussatum. Terellia longicauda larvae (Diptera: Tephritidae) were the most common. The presence of the flies’ larvae was positively correlated with the predation level in the capitula. Females of T. longicauda selected larger inflorescences for laying eggs that may increase offspring fitness as larger inflorescences promise more food resources. We could not prove the presence of competition between insect species inhabiting the capitula. Our data suggest, however, that T. longicauda, a specialized seminophagous dipteran, is one of the factors that negatively influence the fitness of threatened C. decussatum, lowering significantly the seed pool. Terellia longicauda potentially acts as a strong selective force in the evolution of C. decussatum inflorescence size.

The effect of meadow management type on selected population traits of the rare plant Angelica palustris was examined. The study was carried out in a regularly mown meadow (Plot I), an abandoned meadow with medium high plants (Plot II) and an abandoned meadow with high plants (Plot III) situated in southern Poland (Proszowice Plateau). Observations conducted in the years 2010 and 2011 showed greater abundance of A. palustris in Plot I than in Plots II and III. This pointed to the significance of disturbance caused by mowing, which creates gaps in the plant cover and litter layer that become safe sites for A. palustris seedling recruitment and their subsequent growth. In the abandoned meadows a diminishing share of vegetative individuals and a reduction in the number of flowering stems in generative individuals were found. The height of generative stems in the abandoned meadows was higher than in the mown one as a response to the height of neighbouring plants. The number of umbels per stem and number of umbellets per umbel were positively correlated with the height of the stem. In light of our investigations, it can be stated that regular mowing has a beneficial effect on the state of populations of A. palustris. On the other hand, the formation of highly productive generative stems with substantial numbers of inflorescences and infructescences in abandoned meadows may promote successful seed dispersal and an escape from an unfavourable site.

Small balsam Impatiens parviflora DC. (Balsaminaceae) is the invasive species that colonises natural European forest. The morphological and physiological traits of the species under different natural conditions were analysed. The studies were carried out in the forest communities in the National Park (Ojców National Park – Southern Poland) with the known history of the plot: P1 – bottom of the valley, Alno-Ulmion Br.-Bl. et R.Tx. 1943, P2 – terrace of the valley, Tilio-Carpinetum Tracz. 1962 stachyetosum, P3 – south slope of the valley, Tilio-Carpinetum Tracz. 1962 typicum. The plots differed with the soil parameters and microclimatic conditions as well as with species richness, species composition and cover of I. parviflora. The significant statistical differences in the length of the aboveground parts of collected small balsam specimens on the studied plots were showed. The longest shoots among specimens growing in plot P1, and the shortest in plot P3 were observed. In the above ground part of plants, the highest values of water content among the specimens on plot P1 and the lowest on plot P3 were revealed. The highest percentage of electrolytes leakage among the specimens from the plot P2 and the lowest of the plot P1 were observed. The significant differences of the chlorophyll a fluorescence of I. parviflora leaves on the plot P2 were observed, compared to specimens from the two remaining plots. The results pointed that disturbance light availability in dense forest canopy could influence on abundance the local population of small balsam.

Due to easy vegetative and generative reproduction, the most part of the Cirsium species are considered as common weeds in different kinds of crops, on meadows and pastures. They owe their success in acquiring new area, both morphological and physiological characteristics, such as the production of allelopathic substances. An example the species within of the Cirsium genus, which may have the allelopathic properties, is cabbage thistle C. oleraceum (L.) Scop. It is a common meadow perennial plant, which in disturbed habitats quickly becomes expansive species, eliminating the other components of the flora. Such phenomenon is well-documented on the meadows of the Ojców National Park (Southern Poland). Therefore, it was investigated the effect of aqueous extracts of dried leaves C. oleraceum on seed germination, seedlings growth, the fresh and dry weight and the water content of the seedlings in three meadow species: Trifolium pratense L., Lolium multiflorum Lam. and Dactylis glomerata L. The results showed that C. oleraceum exhibits the allelopathic potential, which may have limited effect on the studied parameters of fodder species, but only when using high concentrations of extracts prepared from the leaves (15% and 20%). D. glomerata was the most sensitive on the C. oleraceum allelopathic substances.

Gypsophila perfoliata L. is a maritime sand-dune species naturally occurring in Asia and southeastern Europe. In Europe it also is found in ruderal habitats rarely, mainly along railway lines. In Poland the species was first recorded in the 1950s; it was found only at railway stations where iron ore was offloaded from the Kryvyi Rih region, Ukraine. Recently it was found in a new type of habitat: the roadside of a main road in the Carpathians. The paper characterizes the current status, distribution and habitat spectrum of this alien species in Poland.

Influence of aqueous extracts of aboveground organs of common crop weeds Stellaria media on germination and seedlings growth of radish (Raphanus sativus L. var. radicula Pers.) was studied. Three different cultivars of radish (i.e. ‘Rowa’, ‘Krakowianka’, and ‘Półdługa’) were used to investigate if Stellaria media could produce allelopathins and if the impact of allelopathins differs between cultivars. The influence of allelopathins in various form of extracts was checked, i.e. decoction, infusion, and macerate, as the impact on germination rate, seedling growth (length and mass), and electrolyte leakage. Compared to the control group (distilled water used) the germination rate of radish seeds was lower, independently of the type of S. media extracts used. The growth of seedlings differed between cultivars and form of extract. It was noticed the inhibition of seedling growth for ‘Półdługa’ cultivar independently of extract form. The growth of two other cultivars was stimulated by the infusion, and slightly inhibited by the decoction and macerate. The extracts reduced the outflow of electrolytes through the cell membranes of radish seedlings of all but one the analysed radish cultivars. The exception was the macerate, which in the ‘Rowa’ cultivar caused the increase of the electrolyte leakage.

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of aqueous extracts from the leaves of peppermint (Mentha ×piperita L.) on the seedlings and plants of common sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.). Different concentration of peppermint leaves extract: 1, 3, 5, 10, 15% was used to examine the growth (length), fresh and dry mass of common sunflower seedlings and plants watered peppermint extracts in phase of growth. We measured the length of seedlings and separated organs of plant: root, hypocotyl, epicotyl, petioles of the first row and remainder of he shoot. Additionally, we determined fresh and dry mass of these organs and cotyledons, leaves of the first order and remainder of the leaves. Depending on the concentration the aqueous extracts showed a stimulatory (low extract concentration) or inhibitory (high extract concentration) effect on growth, fresh and dry mass of common sunflower seedlings and plants.

Veratrum lobelianum is a mountain species occurring mainly in the subalpine and montane zone in European and Asian mountains. In Poland, the species has lowlands localities. Three populations of the species were characterized in the Tarnow Plateau (Sandomierz Basin, southern Poland), growing in oak-hornbeam forest and alder carrs. In the similar climatic conditions but varied light and soil conditions (humidity) the species populations differed in morphological traits as plant height, leaves number, leave dimensions, and inflorescence length. The results extend the published ranges of the traits of the species.

The anthropogenic pressure of the forest communities of the Strzyżowskie Foothills (the Western Carpathians) was estimated on the basis of phytosociological materials. Carr communities are among the most threatened by invasive and alien species of the forest flora. The phenomenon of invasiveness of native species such as Calamagrostis epigejos or Carex brizoides was described. The highest number of ancient woodland indicator species was noted in the beech forest.

The results of phytosociological studies on the diversity of alder-ash and willow communities in the Pogórze Strzyżowskie foothills are presented. These communities, especially Carici remotae-Fraxinetum are increasingly rare in the landscape of the Carpathians. The paper supports new data allowing better understanding of the diversity of the Carici remotae-Fraxinetum in the southern Poland. On the basis of 59 phytosociological releves two sub-associations were identified: C.r.-F. chrysosplenietosum and C. r.-F. equisetetosum maximii and the form with Alnus incana. The association Carici remotae-Fraxinetum belongs to submontane regional form and to East Carpathian variant. The significance of Caltha palustris-Chaerophyllum hirsutum community is also presented, along with the role of Carex pendula and Matteucia struthiopteris. The paper provides also documentary data on sporadic occurrence of Salicetum triandro-viminalis and Salicetum albo-fragilis communities.

Rare and endangered species in communities of the Adenostylion alliariae alliance in the Carpathian Mountains The Adenostylion alliariae alliance (Mulgedio-Aconitetea class) comprises plant communities which grow optimally in the subalpine zone of the European mountain ranges. The flora of these communities consists of more than four hundred taxa of vascular plants. Some of the diagnostic species are valuable and rare, either in the Carpathians as a whole or in the countries in which the Carpathians lie. In the flora of the plant communities studied, five taxa are indexed in the Polish Red Book of Endangered Plant Species, thirteen taxa are endemic to the Carpathians, and fourteen represent the eastern biogeographical element in the Polish flora. Two taxa are listed in the Annex II of the Habitats Directive.

The paper presents a syntaxonomical revision of plant communities in the Carpathians dominated by Rumex alpinus L. The study has been based on 252 published releves obtained in various Carpathian massifs, pre- senting phytocoenoses of anthropogenic (zoogenic) origin, and probably natural ones as well. As a result of nu- merical analyses, three associations were distinguished: Aconito firmi-Rumicetum alpini, Heracleo pal- mati-Rumicetum alpini (which are probably natural associations), and an anthropogenic association known as Rumicetum alpini. Within Rumicetum alpini, three subassociations ( senecionetosum nemorensis, po- etosum annue, typicum), two geographical variants (East-Carpathian and West-Carpathian), and some altitu- dinal forms (high-montane and low-montane) were distinguished. Aconito-Rumicetum alpini and Heracleo- Rumicetum alpini were placed within the class Mulgedio-Aconitetea and Rumicetum alpini within the class Galio-Urticetea. The discussion includes the origin of the phytocoenoses and their temporal variability.

In plants cultivation, some species influencing each other in a favorable manner, and others adversely affect the result of the release of physiologically active substances. These substances, called allelopathic compounds are excreted primarily by underground and aboveground plants’ organs or formed during the decomposition of their remains. Allelopathins show the inhibitory or stimulating effects on the processes of seed germination, growth and physiological activity of plants. The aim of the study was to determine the allelopathic effects of aqueous extracts from the peppermint (Mentha × piperita L.) leaves at various concentrations (1, 3, 5, 10, 15%) on seeds germination and the selected physiological processes of common sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) seedlings. Seeds were germinated and plants were grown under greenhouse conditions for 30 days. Germination of sunflower seeds was reduced and electrolyte leakage from seedlings increased with increasing concentrations of aqueous extracts of the peppermint leaves. Increasing concentrations of aqueous extracts of peppermint also caused decrease of chlorophyll a and an increase of chlorophyll b content. The highest increase of the maximum photochemical efficiency of photosystem II was observed in H. annuus L. treated with 15% peppermint extract in comparison to the lower concentration of extracts and to the control. Non-photochemical and photochemical quenching and vitality index of photosystem II decreased with increasing concentrations of allelopathic substances in peppermint extracts.

The paper presents an analysis of mountain species occurrence in the Sopotnia Wielka creek, in the Beskid Żywiecki Mts (Western Carpathians, Poland). The list contains 55 plant species, which represent the whole altitudinal spectrum from piedmont to alpine zones (Viola biflora, Mutellina purpurea). The species inhabit mostly moist and wet communities along creek. They represent mainly the Alpic-Central-European distributional type. Three species are endemics for the Carpathians: Aconitum firmum subsp. firmum, Crocus scepusiensis, Dentaria glandulosa.

The montane and subalpine forests of a mountain range in northwestern Montana were investigated using phytosociological and numerical methods. Twelve associations and two subassociations were identified, of which eight are described here for the first time. The forest vegetation of valleys and lower slopes is strongly affected by repeated fire and is placed in the new orderCalamagrostio-Pseudotsugetalia glaucae, which includes temperate, low elevation forests in inland regions of northwestern North America. These forests bear only weak resemblance to forests traditionally assigned to the classVaccinio-Piceetea, and occupy the habitats filled by broad-leaved forests elsewhere at temperate latitudes. Montane and subalpine forest vegetation is moister and has longer snow duration and a shorter growing season. Upper montane vegetation more closely resembles that of other temperate montane forests of the classVaccinio-Piceetea.